September
11, 2001
MB-AASA-AAA/HCS/DDD/RCS-01-36
MANAGEMENT
BULLETIN
TO: Home
and Community Services Regional Administrators
Area Agency on Aging Directors
SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL PROCESS FOR INDIVIDUAL
PROVIDER ORIENTATION
DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 15, 2001
Team Charge: To
define local administrative procedures and process for the
implementation of the new IP Orientation.
History: SSB 6502
mandates that individual providers receive an orientation consisting of four
major topic areas: fire & safety; communication skills; universal
precautions and infection control; and employer/resident rights. This provision goes into effect on March 2,
2002.
A steering committee was appointed by DSHS Secretary Dennis
Braddock to look at this and other long-term care training issues. As part of their work, the steering
committee generated a series of suggested topics for each of the four
categories listed above. These topic
areas were then used as the foundation of a survey done with case managers,
social workers, IPs, and clients throughout the state and selected members of
the HCS headquarters’ staff. Three to
twelve representatives from each of these key stakeholder groups were asked to
rate the relevance and priority of each topic area suggested by the steering
committee. In addition, data was
collected regarding the logistics of where, when, and how the orientation
should occur and on the issues facing IPs and the consumer during their first
critical weeks.
Where we go from here:
AASA will develop and produce the curriculum, materials, and the
delivery format to be used for the orientation. Each Regional Administrator and AAA director (that corresponds to
the region) will form a team to develop a written plan for the implementation
of local procedures and processes in their region for IP orientation.
Parameters:
§
Home care agencies are responsible for providing orientation
to their employees.
§
The orientation will be no more than 2 hours in length.
§
Each IP contracted after March 2, 2002, is to receive the
orientation.
§
The curriculum will be designed to work for a classroom
setting or an individual orientation.
The likely format is a video with small workbook.
§
The required time frame for orientation completion will be
defined in the training WAC. For
planning purposes, assume that orientation must be completed within one week of
the IP being employed by a DSHS client.
§
There is funding to pay IP wages for 2 hours of
orientation. Funding is tied to the IP
serving a client (as in the Fundamentals of Caregiving Training) so federal
match can be received. For an IP to be
paid they must have a provider number and the client they are working for is
open on SSPS.
§
Other than the 2 hours of tuition, IP wages and
administrative add-on, there is no additional funding to support any special
delivery plans. Local implementation
must be done within the current fiscal structure of caregiver training.
§
IPs’ completion of orientation must be documented, and
records maintained for at least 5 years.
§
An IP will have a complete orientation only once, when they
begin work with their first client.
There may also be an orientation checklist related to individual client
situations (for instance, on safety issues) that will need to be given to the
IP along with the service plan for future clients.
Completed written plan, signed by the appropriate HCS
Regional Administrator and Area Agency on Aging Director, is due November 1,
2001, by mail or fax to:
Marta
Acedo, Chief
Training,
Communications, and Development Unit (TCDU)
AASA
P.O. Box
45600
Olympia,
WA, 98504-5600
FAX (360)
725-2646
The plan must cover the process for each regional & AAA
office, including subcontractors.
The following must be addressed in the plan:
For technical assistance or questions,
call Marta Acedo at (360) 725-2549 or email AcedoM@dshs.wa.gov.
Penny
Black, Director
Home & Community Services
Division